Multimodal cleaning brush

ABSTRACT

A cleaning brush is a multimodal contact cleaner having both a microfiber head and a bristle head coupled by an offset handle assembly that misaligns a grip on the offset handle assembly with the microfiber head to improve features, including operation and ergonomics.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Patent Application number 61/586,998 filed Jan. 16, 2012, the contents in its entirety is hereby incorporated by reference thereto for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to cleaning brushes, and more specifically, but not exclusively, to a specialized cleaning brush for cleaning delicate instruments including music instrument and electronic displays.

It is known that dust and debris may accumulate on music instruments and electronic displays. Some stringed instruments include a plurality of closely-spaced strings closely overlying a soundboard or the like. Space between the strings and between the strings and soundboard can be difficult to clean efficiently. Electronic displays require care when they are cleaned to reduce possibilities of damage. Many households now include one or more musical instruments with such configurations and/or electronic devices with such displays. Conventional brushes are not adapted for efficiently and properly removing dust and debris from these products

What is needed is a system and method for efficiently removing dust and debris from delicate music instruments and electronic displays.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed is a system and method for efficiently removing dust and debris from delicate music instruments and electronic displays. The following summary of the invention is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of technical features related to cleaning delicate musical instruments and electronic displays using a contact brush, and is not intended to be a full description of the present invention. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the invention can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole. The present invention is applicable to other devices other than stringed musical instruments and electronic displays.

Other features, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon a review of the present disclosure, including the specification, drawings, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally-similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1-FIG. 5 illustrate a cleaning brush according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the cleaning brush;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the cleaning brush;

FIG. 3 illustrates a right-hand side view of the cleaning brush, the left-hand side being a minor image;

FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of the cleaning brush; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a rear view of the cleaning brush.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for efficiently removing dust and debris from delicate music instruments and electronic displays. The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements.

Various modifications to the preferred embodiment and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiment shown but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.

FIG. 1-FIG. 5 illustrate a cleaning brush 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein: FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of cleaning brush 100, FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of cleaning brush 100, FIG. 3 illustrates a right-hand side view of cleaning brush 100, the left-hand side being a minor image, FIG. 4 illustrates a front view of cleaning brush 100, and FIG. 5 illustrates a rear view of cleaning brush 100.

Cleaning brush 100 is a multimodal contact cleaner having both a first head 105 and a second head 110 coupled by an offset handle assembly 115. First head 105 includes a thin flat planar profile wrapped or otherwise covered in or supporting a cleaning surface. Some embodiments of the present include a cleaning surface specifically adapted to reach between a set of music strings and a soundboard, or for removing fine particulate matter from a face of an electronic display, or other surfaces. First head 105 includes a generally polygonal profile having a pair of opposing cleaning planes 117 and a plurality of cleaning sidewalls 119 (planes and sidewalls collectively cleaning faces). For a quadrilateral (e.g., rectangular) polygonal first head 105, the profile includes a pair of opposing sidewalls 1191 and an intermediate forward sidewall 1192. Other profiles of first head 105 may be implemented besides the specific illustrated profile. Other polygonal profiles (regular or irregular) include triangles, other quadrilaterals (square, rhombus, trapezoid, kite, and the like), pentagons, hexagons, and the like. A forward portion of first head 105 may be tapered (e.g., having a width at the forward portion that is different (e.g., narrower) that a width at a rearward portion and/or having a thickness at the forward portion that is different (e.g., narrower) that a thickness at a rearward portion. Cleaning brush 100 is illustrated as having a uniform width and thickness for first head 105.

The cleaning surface is distributed on one or more cleaning faces depending upon implementation. In some implementations, the cleaning surface is wrapped around, adhered to, or otherwise secured to first head 105 to cover both cleaning planes 117 and cleaning sidewalls 1191. Other embodiments provide the cleaning surface on other combinations of cleaning planes and cleaning sidewalls. For example, the cleaning surface is sometimes provided on a single cleaning plane 117, with or without the cleaning surface extending to one of sidewalls 119. In other embodiments, the cleaning surface is provided on both cleaning planes and may exclude the cleaning surface from one or more of sidewalls 119. Some embodiments have the cleaning surface cover an entire cleaning face and other embodiments include one or more partially covered cleaning faces.

The cleaning surface in FIG. 1 includes microfiber surfaces. As used herein, microfiber is defined as a synthetic fiber measuring less than one denier and with less than 1.5 Decitex per filament (Decitex being a measure of linear density—ten thousand meters of a 1-decitex fiber weighs one gram). These microfibers may be combined to create yarns which are knitted or woven in a variety of constructions. These microfibers are made of polyester, polyamide or other polymers, including polymers of polypropylene, and combinations thereof, and may be constructed from split conjugated fibers of polyester and polyamide (e.g., 100% polyester microfibers). Depending upon the particular application and intended use, the microfiber is chosen for a particular characteristic including softness, durability, absorption, wicking ability, water repellency, among other characteristics. In some implementations, first head 105 may include other material design for fine precision contact cleaning in narrow confined spaces.

The cleaning surface may not be 100% microfiber. In some embodiments, the cleaning surface varies between 0-100% microfiber, most preferably using microfibers particularly configured for cleaning applications. The cleaning surface may include other combinations of woven and non-woven non-microfiber cleaning material.

Particularly for instruments such as a guitar, banjo, fiddle, violin, viola, and the like, first head 105 may be made thin and flexible with the cleaning surface disposed on both cleaning planes 117. Electronic displays may be incorporated or associated with computers, tablet computers, and other electronic devices, which includes both portable and non-portable electronic devices. For such electronic displays, first head 105 may be made thin and flexible with the cleaning surface disposed on a single cleaning plane 117. As noted above, the flat planar profile need not be rectilinear; the profile may include triangular or other multisided arrangements particularly adapted and optimized for specific implementations and design considerations. In some implementations, first head 105 will not be flat, but may be rounded or have some other appropriate cross-section. First head 105 may be detachable, such as use of a quick-connect coupler, for cleaning or exchange, or it may include a replaceable microfiber cleaning pad that is wrapped around a template and retained in place.

Bristle head 110 includes a set of bristles, brush fibers, and the like designed for more coarse removal requirements, such as dusting and detailing other parts of a music instrument or electronic device, such as keys, housings, cases, and the like. Bristle head 110 may be detachable/replaceable as well. Bristle, as used herein, encompasses stiff hair, feather, or synthetic polymer, and the like.

Offset handle assembly 115 includes two ends, a first end coupled to first head 105 and a second end coupled to bristle head 110. A grip 120 is provided between the first end and the second end, with an axial displacement in offset handle assembly 115 such that first head 105 is in first plane that is both parallel to, and shifted relative, to a second plane containing both bristle head 110 and grip 120. This offset provides superior ergonomics and operation to a user cleaning between the strings and the soundboard of a musical instrument, or reaching and cleaning electronic displays, or other flat surface. In the case of the strings, the offset enables the user to clean the area without extending their hand and arm to the same extent and orientation as would be required without the offset. Particularly because the uniformly flat head portion has a thickness sized to fit between the strings and the underlying soundboard. The offset allowing the head portion to remain flat under the strings as the handle is not required to be angled up to avoid having the fingers of the user's hand contact the strings during cleaning. In the case of the electronic display, the offset enables the user to easily and quickly sweep particulate matter off the electronic display with a wide contact area without risk of touching the display with the user's hand. Not all cleaning brushes 100 include an offset, or will set grip 120 to be parallel to a plane containing first head 105. Some arrangements provide first head 105 in a plane at a non-parallel angle to the plane containing bristle head 110 and grip 120.

Not all embodiments include grip 120 having an axial displacement. In some embodiments, first head 105, bristle head 110, and grip 120 are aligned in a single plane. In some embodiments with and without the offset to grip 120, the bristles of bristle head 110 extend longitudinal-axially from grip 120 while one or more of the cleaning faces provided with the cleaning surfaces have an orientation that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis that includes the bristles.

There are many different possible alternate components, arrangements, and configurations falling within the scope of the present invention, some of which have been described herein. Offset handle assembly may include multiple offsets (e.g., bristle head 110 non-aligned with grip 120), or in some instances, no offset such that first head 105 is aligned with bristle head 110.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “a specific embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention and not necessarily in all embodiments. Thus, respective appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in a specific embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics of any specific embodiment of the present invention may be combined in any suitable manner with one or more other embodiments. It is to be understood that other variations and modifications of the embodiments of the present invention described and illustrated herein are possible in light of the teachings herein and are to be considered as part of the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It will also be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application.

Additionally, any signal arrows in the drawings/Figures should be considered only as exemplary, and not limiting, unless otherwise specifically noted. Furthermore, the term “or” as used herein is generally intended to mean “and/or” unless otherwise indicated. Combinations of components or steps will also be considered as being noted, where terminology is foreseen as rendering the ability to separate or combine is unclear.

As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate. As indicated, these modifications may be made to the present invention in light of the foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention and are to be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Thus, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of embodiments of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth. Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope and spirit of the present invention. It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular terms used in following claims and/or to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any and all embodiments and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims. Thus, the scope of the invention is to be determined solely by the appended claims. 

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:
 1. A cleaning device, comprising: an elongate handle having a first end and a second end, said handle including a longitudinal axis; a head portion coupled to said first end, said head portion including a planar face having a cleaning surface perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; a cleaning material coupled to said cleaning surface; and a tail portion coupled to said second end, said tail portion including a plurality of elongate fibers generally parallel to said longitudinal axis.
 2. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said longitudinal axis includes a first axis portion associated with said head portion and a second axis portion parallel to and misaligned with said first axis portion, said second axis portion associated with said tail portion and wherein said elongate handle includes an axial displacement that axially offsets said head portion with respect to said tail portion.
 3. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said handle is generally cylindrical having a generally uniform diameter.
 4. The cleaning device of claim 1 wherein said head portion includes a polygonal profile having a plurality of cleaning faces including said planar face.
 5. The cleaning device of claim 4 wherein said head portion is uniformly flat defining a pair of opposing cleaning planes, a first cleaning plane including said planar face and wherein said plurality of cleaning faces further includes a plurality of exterior sidewalls extending between said cleaning planes.
 6. The cleaning device of claim 5 wherein said cleaning material is coupled to one exterior sidewall of said plurality of exterior sidewalls.
 7. The cleaning device of claim 6 wherein said cleaning material is coupled to said pair of opposing cleaning planes.
 8. The cleaning device of claim 7 wherein said pair of opposing cleaning planes each includes a rectangular profile.
 9. The cleaning device of claim 8 wherein said longitudinal axis includes a first axis portion associated with said head portion and a second axis portion parallel to and misaligned with said first axis portion, said second axis portion associated with said tail portion and wherein said elongate handle includes an axial displacement that axially offsets said head portion with respect to said tail portion.
 10. The cleaning device of claim 8 wherein said handle is generally cylindrical having a generally uniform diameter.
 11. The cleaning device of claim 10 wherein said rectangle has a width perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and a length parallel to said longitudinal axis wherein said width is greater than said diameter and wherein said length is greater than said width.
 12. A method for cleaning a first surface and a second surface independent from the first surface; comprising: a) operating an elongate handle to clean the first surface using a cleaning material of a cleaning surface of a cleaning head, said elongate handle having a first end and a second end, said handle including a longitudinal axis, said cleaning head coupled to said first end, said cleaning head including a planar face having a cleaning surface perpendicular to said longitudinal axis contacting the first surface; and b) operating said elongate handle to clean the second surface using a a plurality of elongate fibers coupled to a tail portion coupled to said second end, said plurality of elongate fibers generally parallel to said longitudinal axis. 